Follow Jesus For Life

We set the context for reading and understanding Paul’s Prison Letters – Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians and Philippians.

In our last session for the course, we look at the last chapters of Acts. On the way to Rome, Paul faces storms at sea, shipwreck, and snake bites. Yet in all of the this, the Lord delivers Paul. Paul arrives in Rome and addresses the Jewish leaders. Yet it becomes clear that as they…

We take a closer look at Paul’s defense before Festus and Herod Agrippa II. In this final speech by Paul, many of the themes originating in Luke’s Gospel are brought full circle. We also have several great summaries of key theological ideas.

Governor Festus inherits Paul’s case after Felix is removed from office. When Paul realizes that Festus may not be on his side, he appeals to have his case go before Caesar in Rome. In the meantime, Herod Agrippa II and his sister Bernice arrive to welcome Festus which gives them opportunity to hear Paul. Paul…

After his defense before the Jewish crowd outside the Temple fails, Claudius Lysias takes Paul in to be “examined by the scourge.” Once Paul reveals that he is a Roman citizen and a plot to have him murdered is revealed, Lysias transports him to Caesarea to Governor Felix. Paul turns his accuser’s case on their…

After addressing the Ephesian Elders/Overseers/Shepherds, Paul continues his journey to Jerusalem. Even after warnings that imprisonment awaited him there, Paul knows the Lord has plans for him in Jerusalem. After trying to subvert the “conspiracy theories” that have been worked him, Paul is arrested by the Romans. He also tries to give a defense before…

Paul continues his Third journey spending three years in Ephesus which becomes a major “hub” of effective outreach. After stirring up trouble with the idol makers at the Temple of Artemus and almost inciting a riot, he moves on back to Macedonia and then decides to return to Jerusalem. On the way, he encourages and…

Paul concludes the second missionary journey after sharing the Gospel in Corinth amidst much turmoil. In the meantime, Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos enter the scene, building up the churches through their teaching. Paul then begins his third journey heading through the interior of Asia Minor and arriving in Ephesus. We also discuss some cultural distinctives…

Paul addresses the Areopagus in Athens. Addressing a primarily Greek/Gentile audience, Paul creates the context for understanding the significance of Jesus’ Resurrection and The Gospel. This is the second of three “model sermons” that Luke presents to represent Paul’s apostolic teaching.

Paul and Silas are incarcerated after stirring up trouble in Philippi. After being set free by supernatural intervention, Paul shares the Gospel with the Jailer and he and his family become believers. The group moves on to Thessalonica where they stir up more trouble. Paul is sent on to Athens where he preaches one of…

With the letter from the Jerusalem counsel in hand, Paul and Barnabas along with Judas and Silas return to Antioch. After deciding to return to the towns visited in their first journey, Paul and Barnabas have a sharp disagreement over John Mark and split. Paul takes Silas and heads back to Asia Minor. Along the…

Barnabas and Paul complete their first apostolic journey in spite of facing intense opposition in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. Then some of the brothers who were of the Pharisees stir up trouble by saying that the new Gentile believers needed to be circumsized and keep the Law of Moses in order to be saved. A…

Paul gives his first sermon/speech in the synagogue at Psidian Antioch. Building on what Peter and Stephen have already preached, Paul argues that Jesus brings justification/freedom from even the things that the Law of Moses could not deal with.

Herod Agrippa attacks the church, killing James (John’s brother) and imprisons Peter with the plan to kill him. The Lord intervenes and releases Peter and smites Herod dead. In the meantime, the church at Antioch is established and the Holy Spirit sets Barnabas and Paul apart for a ministry to the Nations.

Through a series of visions, Peter is directed to the house of Cornelius – a Roman Centurion Gentile. There, Peter proclaims the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit falls on all who are there. In this great turning point, the Lord opens the Gospel to the Gentiles/Nations and begins the fulfillment of the promise to…

The Lord Jesus appears to Saul on the road to Damascus. At this critical turning point, the Lord takes His greatest enemy and transforms him into His great ally. In the days to come, Saul – also to be called Paul- will take the message of the Gospel to the Nations and before Kings. The…

Philip – one of the Seven – is sent to Samaria and they welcome the Good News of the Messiah. Then Philip teaches an Ethiopian Eunuch about Jesus from Isaiah. Jesus purposes are being fulfilled and we get a preview of the Good News heading to the “ends of the earth.” .

Gives gives his testimony to the Sanhedrin. Reciting a history of Israel, Stephen makes the case that those with “stiff necks” and “uncircumcised hearts” have always rejected God’s purposes. Incensed, they drag Stephen outside the city and stone him to death. And so Stephen becomes the first disciple to follow Jesus through death.

As fear and amazement grip the people of Jerusalem, internal problems and external threats hit the early Church. Stephen is introduced – the disciple who would be the first to give his life for his witness to Jesus.

In the aftermath of the healing of the lame man, many come to faith. But the jealousy of the Sadducees is stirred up and the leaders try to compel the Apostles to shut up by they are only made more bold. As the Spirit is working to knit all the believers together in one heart…

We start by discussing Peter’s “Call to action” at the end of his Pentecost sermon. We then discuss the healing of the man born lame and Peter’s second sermon. In these early chapters of Acts, we get a view of the power and simplicity of the Spirit’s work as the Church is being formed.

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter gives his sermon explaining why the Holy Spirit has been poured out and how salvation is available to all through the name of Jesus.

At the celebration of Pentecost – a celebration of the early harvests – The Holy Spirit is poured out and fills the first disciples. We take a sideline to talk about the Baptism and filling of the Holy Spirit. We also begin to work through Peter’s powerful sermon explaining the amazing things that were taking…

We finish our exploration of 2 Peter 1 by looking that the final 3 virtues: Godliness, Brotherly Affection and Generous, Unselfish Love. If we are people who live these qualities out and they are all growing, we will be useful and fruitful in our deep, personal knowledge of Jesus.

The Eleven Apostles take action to replace the traitor Judas who killed himself. Then, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is poured out on the first believers and followers of Jesus.

We talk about Jesus’ divine power that has granted to us all that we need for life and godliness. We then talk about the first 4 virtues that we need to add to our faith that has been allotted to us.

We look at the first 14 verses of Acts with the basic instructions Jesus gives to the Apostles that set the Mission for the rest of the narrative.

We complete our study of Romans, looking at chapters 14-16.

In our second session, we discuss what it means to have a deep, personal knowledge of Jesus.

Luke-Acts is intended to be a single work, a continuous narrative about the might works of God in the life of Jesus and the life of the early Church. We do some review and introduction as we deal with the Why? What? and How? of Acts.

A short summer series on 2 Peter 1:1-11. In this powerful introduction to his second letter, Peter gives us the way to be fruitful and effective in our true, personal knowledge of Jesus.

We begin to close out our study of Romans by tracing our way through the applicational section.

We continue to trace Paul’s five step argument in this section. We discuss God giving the promises to the Gentiles in order to make Israel jealous. We also talk about Israel’s election and how ethnic Israel is distinct from the Church in Paul’s thoughts.

We continue to trace Paul’s five step argument dealing with the place of Israel in God’s present purposes. We discuss false notions of “free will.” We also discuss the proclamation of the Gospel as essential to faith. Finally, we begin our discussion of Paul’s arguments about the Faithful Remnant of Israel.

We continue to trace Paul’s five step argument dealing with the place of Israel in God’s present purposes. We also discuss the nature of faith and law in the writings of Moses as a foundation for Paul’s explanation of faith righteousness.

We deal with the topics of God’s sovereign grace and freedom in this powerful but difficult chapter.

We introduce the Romans 9-11. We discuss the importance discovering and working out the argument of the New Testament books. We then talk about Paul’s explanation of the place of Israel in God’s present work in Christ.

We begin to introduce Romans 9-11 by talking about issues at the end of chapter 8. We then review the important of topic of obedience being a result of faith and love, not a primary cause.

We begin discussing how God “works all things together for good…” in the light of suffering in the life of the believer. We touch on the issues of the foreknowledge and predestining work of God.

Paul discusses the glory that awaits us, the work of the Holy Spirit and the role of suffering in the life of the believer.

Romans 8:1 picks up where Paul left off in 5:20-21. After the sideline discussion (diatribe) in chapters 6 and 7, Paul returns to the mainline of his argument: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!” To live by grace is to live by faith in the hope that we are…

Paul addresses the question, “Is the Law sin?” The problem is not with the Law, but with us. Indwelling Sin that lives in our Flesh takes opportunity through the Law to deceive us and betray us.

We review the context of Romans 6 and 7 and discuss some of the critical terms here: indwelling sin, flesh, law, righteousness. We also review the concept of corporate solidarity.

Paul answers the question, “Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace?” Absolutely not! Because we are now married to Christ, we have been set free from the old, obsolete way of the Law. Living by faith under Grace is the new, “fresh” way of the Spirit.

We complete our study of the Gospel of Luke by reading his accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. These are the events that changed everything. Jesus dies for sins and He is raised to New Life so that we can live forever, In Him. But the end of the Luke is not the end of…

Paul answers the question, “Should we continue in sin so that grace may abound?” Absolutely not! We have been set free from the power of sin. How can we still live in it?

We complete our discussion of the condemnation that comes through Adam and the new life that comes through Jesus. We also take on overview of the questions Paul raises in chapters 6 and 7 which deal with some of the objections that might be raised to his teaching of grace and faith.

In the context of Jesus reinterpreting the Passover for the disciples, they get in an argument over who is the greatest. But in just a few hours they will all have deserted Jesus, even Peter. After His betrayal and arrest, Jesus is questioned by both Pilate and Herod and neither can find any reason to…

We consider the parallel works of Adam and Christ. If we were condemned because of the one man Adam’s sin then we can be reconciled with God through the one man Jesus Christ’s righteousness. We consider the implications of the concept of corporate solidarity in the larger Biblical context and what it means for our…

Jesus completes His teaching on the signs of the end of the Age and The Kingdom to come. As the leaders of the nation seek a way to kill Him and Satan enters Judas to betray Him, the Lord reinterprets the Passover to focus on Himself and His sacrificial work for His people.

We give an overview of Romans 5-8. Because of what Jesus has done for us, God is not angry or frustrated with us – His children through faith. We also discuss reconciliation and how we live a life in Christ free from the Law. Finally, we begin to consider what has happened to us “in…